Virginia coach unleashes on broadcaster who assisted referees in replay review

close

Video

Fox News Flash top sports headlines for November 11

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

There are usually three referees in a college basketball game, but for Virginia head coach Tony Bennett, there might as well have been four.

Virginia and Florida matched up in Charlotte on Friday night, and the game went to a critical replay review with 54.9 seconds to go, and the Cavaliers leading, 71-69.

Referees initially ruled that a ball was last touched by a Gator, even after a replay review. However, apparently they had not seen a replay that the broadcasters had seen that clearly showed otherwise.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts to a call in the second half during a game against the Miami Hurricanes at John Paul Jones Arena on February 5, 2022, in Charlottesville, Virginia.  (Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)

Before Virginia was about to inbound the ball, two refs spoke to one another while analyst Cory Alexander said he had "a great" view of the replay.

So, the referees walked over to the broadcasters' table, and after some more deliberation, the call was reversed, and Bennett was fuming on the bench, but not at the refs.

"Tony Bennett is now yelling at me from across the court," Alexander said.

"Great job by this officiating crew getting it together. . . ." Alexander also said. "It's the right play on the floor."

"I'll take that one. That's on me," he added.

ESPN analyst, Cory Alexander, poses for a photo before Game 2 of the 2021-22 G League Finals on April 14, 2022, at the Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware. (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

MICHIGAN STARS, ALUM TOM BRADY HAVE ONE-WORD RESPONSE TO JIM HARBAUGH'S PUNISHMENT

Play-by-play announcer Dave O'Brien defended his partner.

"No doubt, Cory. . . The officials did the right thing utilizing what they had at their disposal."

The (correct) call didn't wind up hurting Virginia, though, as they still managed to come away with a 73-70 victory.

According to Awful Announcing, referees asked Alexander whether they had gotten the call right, to which he told them he thought they had not. That's when the refs looked at the broadcast's angle, which they originally did not have.

Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts to a play during a game against the Duke Blue Devils at John Paul Jones Arena on February 23, 2022, in Charlottesville, Virginia.  (Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"I probably lost my cool a little bit when that call was reversed, and what I thought I saw, but it was interesting," Bennett admitted.

Virginia improved to 2-0 on the young season, while the Gators dropped to 1-1.